South Bay Digest

Rancho P.V. : Pay Raise for Employees

The City Council approved a measure Tuesday to change the salary ranges for 17 city staff positions, increasing the starting salaries of all but one. While the increases will cost the city an additional $25,626 during the current fiscal year and $51,252 during fiscal year 1986-87, the increase amounts to less than 1% of the city's total budget, City Manager Don Guluzzy said. The changes take effect Jan. 1.

Guluzzy compared the city's average salaries with those of 11 similar cities in Los Angeles County and found Rancho Palos Verdes' salaries for 17 positions to be uncompetitive. He said low salaries in Rancho Palos Verdes had caused recruitment and retention problems.

The only opponent to the changes was Councilman Robert Ryan, who some city employees would receive exorbitant pay increases. "I was on the City Council when it didn't throw money out the front door," he said.